The IPA is saddened to note the passing of Emeritus Professor Adrian John Fourcin (30 August 1927 – 10 April 2026), a monumental figure in experimental phonetics, speech science, and hearing research.

As Head of the Phonetics and Speech Sciences Laboratory at University College London (UCL) from 1961 to 1992, and subsequently Professor Emeritus of Experimental Phonetics, Professor Fourcin led decades of transformative interdisciplinary research at the intersection of engineering, phonetics, and clinical medicine.

Among his most groundbreaking achievements was his invention of the electrolaryngograph in the 1960s. By enabling non-invasive, highly precise measurement of vocal fold contact, the laryngograph revolutionized acoustic research, speech forensics, and vocal rehabilitation worldwide. Beyond voice analysis, Professor Fourcin made seminal contributions to speech processing strategies for cochlear implants, significantly advancing auditory and speech perception for deaf individuals.

A founding member and Fellow of the British Voice Association (BVA), his extraordinarily productive career spanned over seven decades and more than 130 publications. His research scope encompassed neuro-temporal pitch processing and voice quality assessment as well as clinical studies on Parkinson's disease, amusia, and birdsong rhythm.

Professor Fourcin’s legacy endures through the generations of researchers, clinicians, and patients whose lives and work were enriched by his visionary instruments and warm mentorship.